AG Healey shows support for Biden undoing Trump abortion and healthcare rule

BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supporting a proposed rule that would undo the Trump Administration’s efforts against Title X, a national family planning program that provides money to help low-income women access health care services.

“Trump’s harmful gag rule denied access to critical health care services for low-income, Black and brown, and LGBTQ+ communities all over the country,” AG Healey said. “We are thrilled the Biden Administration moved swiftly to restore the vital and successful Title X program.”

According to Healey, the Trump Administration’s regulations included a “gag rule” that effectively bans Title X providers from discussing safe and legal abortions with their patients, regardless of the provider’s judgement or the patient’s wishes.

Prior to the Trump Administration’s rule, Massachusetts received more than $4 million annually in Title X funding that allowed service sites in the state to offer services including pregnancy testing, contraceptive services, routine gynecological care, anemia, diabetes, cervical and breast cancer screenings, infertility services, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and health education.

Healey stated that services provided through the federal Title X program helped avert thousands of unintended pregnancies in the state each year.

“By reducing the number of unintended pregnancies in low-income populations that rely on MassHealth, Title X saved the state and the federal government an estimated $150 million a year.”

AG Healey was part of the coalition of 21 attorneys general who sued to challenge the Trump Administration’s regulations in March 2019.

Joining AG Healey in sending the letter are the attorneys general of California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia